The first edition of Tenebris vitae, a course in applied biospeleology, has come to a close. The initiative was organised by the Adriatic Speleological Society in collaboration with the University of Trieste and the Trieste Civic Museum of Natural History, with the patronage of the Italian Speleological Society and the Municipality of Duino Aurisina – Občina Devin Nabrežina.

The course was fully booked, with all available places filled within the maximum number set to ensure the quality of the field activities and the safe management of the group during the descent into the Trebiciano Cave, at a depth of more than 300 metres. This result confirms the growing interest in a discipline that brings together speleological exploration, scientific research and the protection of underground environments.

The course proposed an innovative format, creating a direct link between university research and the speleological community. Alongside the traditional approaches to collecting, observing and identifying cave-dwelling organisms, the programme introduced specific training in sampling techniques for molecular research, with a particular focus on environmental DNA, or eDNA.

This was one of the course’s most distinctive features: participants were trained not only to recognise and document underground fauna, but also to collect samples for genetic analysis, following the procedures needed to avoid contamination, including contamination with their own DNA. This is a crucial step in ensuring that fieldwork can support increasingly advanced studies on the biodiversity of underground environments.

The contribution of the University of Trieste focused in particular on the most innovative aspects of biospeleological research. Chiara Manfrin, researcher in Zoology at the Department of Life Sciences and scientific coordinator of the course, spoke about biodiversity monitoring and molecular identification methods based on eDNA. Marco Gerdol, professor of Genetics at the Department of Life Sciences, explored the adaptations of organisms to life underground, including at genomic level. PhD student Raffaele Bruschi addressed emerging issues linked to the pollution of underground environments, with a focus on hydrocarbons and microplastics.

The programme therefore integrated taxonomic and systematic approaches with tools that are becoming increasingly important for the study of biodiversity, such as DNA barcoding, metabarcoding and eDNA. Considerable attention was also devoted to the regulatory aspects concerning the protection of underground fauna in Veneto, Friuli Venezia Giulia and Slovenia, underlining the need to view underground ecosystems not only as places of exploration, but as fragile, complex and scientifically valuable environments.

The course brought together speleologists and speleo-researchers from several Italian regions, with a wide range of profiles: university researchers, students, UniTS speleology students and experienced speleologists interested in placing their skills at the service of scientific projects. This participation confirmed how the relationship between speleological expertise and academic research can open up new perspectives for data collection and the monitoring of underground environments.

The practical activities were led by Chiara Manfrin and Marco Restaino, president of the Adriatic Speleological Society, in the Trebiciano Cave and in the Isonzo area. Participants were able to apply directly the main sampling techniques used in biospeleological research, gaining practical skills in the collection, preservation and documentation of biological samples according to scientific protocols.

One day of the course was dedicated to fieldwork in the cave, with the descent into the Trebiciano Abyss, where a section of the Timavo River flows at the bottom. One of the most significant moments was the encounter with the olm (Proteus anguinus), the only troglobitic vertebrate found in Italy. For many participants, this was their first opportunity to observe this remarkable amphibian live in its natural environment: a symbol of the biodiversity of underground waters and of the need to preserve subterranean ecosystems.

The success of Tenebris vitae confirms the value of collaboration between speleologists and researchers: an increasingly strategic relationship for studying environments that are difficult to access, collecting scientific data in complex settings and contributing to the protection of a natural heritage that still remains largely unexplored.